The installation of the Redthorn Production Control System in January 2003 has meant FGP Ltd now has a system which gives us complete control of our manufacturing process. It has also improved our ability to meet our customers delivery schedules and our automated shop floor data collection has enabled us to have an up to the minute overview of the status of work in the factory. Upgrading to Aventa from Redthorn, at the end of 2006, has now made it possible to move forward into the realms of full MRP.

The deployment of the Mastercam X5 cadcam system has added another string to the FGP bow, allowing true 3D modelling and post processing for our 3, 4 and 5 axis machining centres. FGP can now receive and process 2D drawings or 3D models electronically, in a variety of different formats including, Parasolid, SAT (ACIS solids), AutoCAD (DXF TM, DWG, InventorTM files), SolidWorks, SolidEdge, CADL, STL, VDA, ASCII. STEP, Catia and Pro-E.

Conscious of the need for flexibility, FGP has also rolled out Catia V5. The ZAD seat deployed by FGP has been specifically formulated to satisfy the exacting standards of Airbus. FGP saw this as a good fit for the business and has made extensive use of this system for the receipt and manipulation of complex three dimensional models.

The Virtual DMIS system from International Metrology Systems has allowed FGP to fully link its CAD component data with the CMM inspection process. Using the latest software development tools, and CAD and CMM industry standards, Virtual DMIS enables, without compromise, seamless collection, analysis, visualization and communication of quality data throughout the manufacturing environment, providing a full-service, software-focused approach to CMM control and Metrology based solutions.